Located in the busy Orchard Road district with a prominent al-fresco dining area, it is hard to miss the Black Angus Steakhouse. Being the first of its franchise outlets outside the United States , it boosts an indoor capacity of 100 and an outdoor capacity of 150. The clientele base ranges from families, professionals, expatriates, tourists and to the hip downtown shopping and clubbing crowd who like to chill-out al-fresco style and watch the world go by.

• The Vibe
  The décor at Black Angus models that of a contemporary American steakhouse – hues of red and brown with dimmed lighting provides a warm and cosy ambience. Several tables are located in cubicle-like boxes, giving added privacy and comfort to diners.

• The Food
  Since its opening in 1997, Black Angus has been very rigorous in adhering to the standards of its parent company, importing beef and other ingredients direct from the US and using exclusive traditional recipes to prepare the food.

  Take off your dinner with the Wild West Onion ($13.90 ) which are large imported colossal onions cut open to resemble a flower and coated with batter before deep-frying. The accompanying dip can be a little overwhelming masking the fragrance of the onion. The Breaded Mushroom ($9.90) , fried to perfection under the crispy batter is a warm juicy bite-sized button mushroom, complemented with a homemade mayonnaise dip.

  As a steakhouse, the Prime Ribs of Beef ($36-$60) is Black Angus' signature dish. The oven- baked American Angus beef is moist and tasty, served with US whipped potato and some crunchy greens. For more health conscious diners, the New York Steak ($38 - $43) offers a leaner alternative, grilled to your preference and served with a choice of sauce (black pepper, teriyaki or red wine sauce). Though less moist and tender than the Prime Ribs because of the grilling, the New York Steak still retains the flavour and texture of beef well. The different dips also complement the steak, while catering to different tastes.

  Bronco Bustin' BBQ Chicken and Ribs ($29.90) suits those want variety on a plate. The chicken breast dressed in BBQ sauce is succulent and tender while the marinated pork ribs may be a tad too sweet for some as it is marinated for a few days so the sauce will seep through, and grilled in BBQ sauce.

  For desserts, take on the Strawberry Delight ($8.50), a concoction made from strawberry puree, soda and whipped cream, delightfully refreshing and fruity. A heavier option will be the Cheesecake ($11.90) imported directly and exclusively from the United States . Its rich and creamy, but yet light and fluffy texture is what all cheesecake lovers would yearn for. For extra decadence, pour the strawberry puree all over the cake for an extra sweet treat.

• The Service
  The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable of their food. Do not hesitate to ask for their recommendations.

The SD food advisor's take on the Black Angus Steakhouse
The restaurant's prime location and good food works to its advantage. The prices are also quite friendly on the wallet, which is one of the draws of the Black Angus Steakhouse – being able to enjoy quality food and service at an affordable price.

However, the portions are extremely generous and may be too much to eat for local diners, so do go with an empty stomach.